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Biosecurity Warning Issued, Australia Finds Illegal Dairy Imports

AUSTRALIA – Australian authorities are constantly on the lookout for breaches in quarantining laws, importers and the public have been warned following the discovery of an illegal dairy shipment.

A Chinese importer was convicted of breaching the Quarantine Act 1908 on Monday, pleading guilty of knowingly shipping dairy products illegally into the country.

Wonsoek Lee of Changshin International was charged $20,000 and will serve a one year seven month sentence in prison.

First Assistant Secretary of the Department of Agriculture’s Compliance Division, Raelene Vivian, said the conviction fitted the risk of bringing in foot and mouth disease, which could cost the national economy upwards of $50 billion in ten years.

“Dairy products from overseas have the potential to carry FMD,” said Mrs Vivien.

“I strongly urge importers and members of the public to follow our biosecurity requirements because, as this prosecution demonstrates, we take our job seriously and are on the lookout for wrongdoers.

“Contrary to his documents and the conditions of his import permit Mr Lee was found to have imported a large amount of high-risk product.

“Not only that, Mr Lee also disobeyed an order to move the goods into quarantine, instead moving them to another, non-approved facility.

“I strongly urge importers and members of the public to follow our biosecurity requirements because, as this prosecution demonstrates, we take our job seriously and are on the lookout for wrongdoers.”